The 36-year-old UK taxi driver, who will be referred to as
Daniel due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed to the BBC in a report
published on Sunday that he receives a monthly salary of N150,000 from his
employer in Nigeria, as a result of a mutual agreement with his superior.
Recently, the Federal Government announced its intention to
take strict measures against Nigerian government employees who have relocated
overseas but continue to receive salaries from the government.
On Saturday, June 22, 2024, President Bola Tinubu expressed
concern over the revelations made by the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation regarding employees who had relocated abroad while continuing to
receive salaries without formally resigning. He emphasized the need for these
individuals to return the funds they had fraudulently collected.”
He stated that supervisors and department heads who aided
and abetted the fraud must also face consequences for their actions. Tinubu
affirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that those responsible are
held liable and that restitution is made to rectify the situation.”
Non-governmental employees continue to receive remuneration
despite not being officially registered in the national civil service.
In certain instances, individuals who have either resigned
from their governmental positions or relocated internationally continue to
receive the tranche.
Nevertheless, Daniel, a subordinate functionary at a
governmental institution, exhibited indifference towards the presidential
directive, asserting that his current remuneration in the United Kingdom
surpasses the compensation he receives from the government.
He said, “When I heard about the president’s directive, I
smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried.”
Upon inquiry regarding his decision to retain his position
despite his international relocation, Daniel indicated his intention to
potentially return following a period of several years abroad.
“To be honest, I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave
that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years,” he
retorted.
Several Nigerian citizens, including Daniel, have chosen to
reside abroad while continuing to receive their monthly salaries from the
Federal Government’s budget.
In June 2022, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service
Reforms, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, disclosed that the Federal Government-backed
Integration Personnel and Payroll Information System had exposed and eliminated
about 70,000 ghost workers in the civil service system.
Arabi added that the government had saved at least N220
billion, and N10 trillion through the Treasury Single Account since it was
fully implemented by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Daniel continues to enjoy the ‘free money’ he hasn’t been
working for for the past two years as he said, “I had a good understanding with
my boss and he just let me leave.”
Typically, instances of ghost workers involve collusion with
their superiors to conceal the deception, with the salaries subsequently
divided between the parties involved.
“In my case, the situation was different because my
supervisor was a family member”, Daniel said.